Device for making textured portions of food products

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a device for producing portions of food products in pieces, especially chunks of fresh meat, comprising at least one pump capable of outputting an approximately constant flow rate of food product in pieces, a tubular distributing pipe ( 2 ) connected to the delivery outlet of said pump, and comprising at least one delivery opening ( 22   a,    22   b ), and cutting and shaping means ( 61 ) acting on the food product distributed by the outlet opening of the pipe to form portions (P 1 ), said tubular pipe being equipped with a cutting system ( 3 ) comprising at least one cutting means, such as a flat oscillating blade ( 310   a,    310   b   1 320   a,    320   b,    410 ), which traverses transversely from one side to the other of said main internal passageway in order to cut the food product into at least two layers and so produce textured portions (P 1 ) of food products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for producing portions of foodproducts and more particularly textured portions of food products fromfood products in pieces, especially patties of fresh meat in muscle.

There has been known from patent document EP 1397047 a device forproducing portions of minced meat, such as minced steaks, comprising amincer outputting a stream of minced meat, having an “angel's hair” typestringy structure created by the discharge grating of the mincer, anendless conveyor belt transporting the stream of minced meat at theoutput of the mincer and a cutting and shaping device comprising cuttingmeans for cutting the stream of meat into portions, lateral shapingmeans acting simultaneously on each side of the stream of minced meat toshape the contours of the portions and vertical shaping meanscooperating with said lateral shaping means to confer to said portionsthe desired thickness.

The mincer is associated to a flow-regulating member called pusher,typically comprising a pump, for example a pallet or piston type pump,supplied on the inlet by a hopper and whereof the discharge outlet isequipped with said mincer.

Patent document EP 1 509 089 describes an identical device for producingminced steaks filled with a filling. The mincer is equipped at theoutput with two distribution spouts for forming a lower stream of mincedmeat and an upper stream of minced meat respectively deposited on a mainconveyor and a secondary conveyor. The filling is deposited on the lowerstream of meat, and the upper stream of meat is then brought to overlapthe lower stream of meat and the filling deposited on the latter to forma stream of filled minced meat, that then passes in the aforementionedcutting and shaping device.

Such devices are provided for producing portions from meat minced andextruded by the holes of the grating of a mincer. The final productsobtained are textured into strings of minced meat orientedlongitudinally, and thus have a stringy aspect.

The object of the present invention is to propose a device making itpossible to obtain new products having a different texture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the present invention proposes a device that makes itpossible to produce end products having a textured aspect identical tothat of the initial food product introduced into the pump, andparticularly in the case of meat, keeping the fibrous aspect of theinitial pieces of meat. The device according to the invention may beused for producing portions from any type of food product in pieces,such as meat in muscle, filleted fish, and vegetables in pieces such ascarrots for example.

The object of the present invention is a device for producing portionsof food products in pieces, especially patties of fresh meat in muscle,comprising at least one pump able to deliver at the output asubstantially constant flow of food product in pieces, a tubulardistribution duct connected to the discharge outlet of said pump toreceive in the main internal passage thereof the food product exitingthe pump, and comprising at least one distribution orifice, and cuttingand shaping means acting on the food product distributed by thedischarge orifice of the distribution duct to form portions of foodproducts, characterized in that said distribution duct is equipped witha cutting system comprising at least one cutting means whichtransversally crossing on either side said main internal passage of thedistribution duct, with a rectilinear cutting edge turned towards theflowing direction of the flow of food product in order to cut the foodproduct in at least two layers, in such a way as to obtain texturedportions of food product at the output of the shaping and cutting means.

According to the invention, the distribution system is equipped with atleast one cutting means able to cut the flow of meat into at least twolayers. The distribution duct is directly connected to the dischargeoutlet of the pump, without inserting a mincing system, so that, forfood products in pieces, a new multi-layered, multi-stripped and/or insmall pieces, textured end product is obtained whereof the externalaspect corresponds to the texture of the initial food product in pieces.In the case of a food product in pieces such as meat in muscle,particularly turkey or chicken breasts for example or pieces of beefmeat, the end product keeps the fibrous aspect of the initial meat. Saidcutting means is a dynamic cutting means, such as for example a flatreciprocating blade-type blade coupled to a back-and-forth movementsystem, a circular rotary blade, a blade coupled with an ultrasonicgenerator, a laser beam and/or a water jet.

According to a feature, said pump is a rotary, piston-type pumpcomprising a stator defining a cylindrical cavity, a rotor or a barrelhoused in said cylindrical cavity, able to be rotationally driven by amotor, said rotor comprising a set of circumferentially spaced boreholes, in which are mounted pistons, a mechanical cam cooperating withthe pistons to cause, during the rotation of the barrel, a back andforth alternating movement of said pistons between a low position and ahigh position, a lid closing the cylindrical cavity, a supply orificethat comes into communication with at least one cylindrical chamberformed by a cylindrical bore hole of the barrel and its associatedpiston, and intended to be in communication with a hopper, a dischargeoutlet able to come simultaneously into communication with at least twoconsecutive cylindrical chambers.

According to another feature, in order to ensure a constant flow of foodproduct and thus obtain a substantially constant weight portioning, saidpump is such as defined in patent document FR 2 884 287, whereof theentire contents is incorporated here by reference, said pump comprising

-   -   cylindrical chamber vacuuming means for filling the cylindrical        chambers, said vacuuming means comprising at least one vacuuming        channel exiting in the lower portion of each cylindrical        chamber, said vacuuming means being able to vacuum via the        bottom each cylindrical chamber by its vacuuming channel when        the piston associated thereof is in low position,    -   and/or cutting means comprising a blade arranged along the        downstream edge of the supply orifice, to cut the pieces of        product extending beyond the cylindrical chambers during their        passage beyond the supply orifice.

According to another feature, the cutting system of the distributionduct comprises a first set of cutting means, arranged in a parallelmanner one above another, for example horizontally, in order to cut thefood product coming from the pump into several layers. The distancebetween two adjacent cutting means, for example two flat adjacentblades, is for example comprised between 1 and 20 mm, according to thedesired end product, preferably between 2 and 7 mm.

According to another feature, the cutting system comprises a second setof cutting means arranged vertically in a parallel to each other,downstream from the first set of cutting means, in order to cut intostrips each of the layers resulting from the first set of cutting means,the first set of cutting means and the second set of cutting means beingpreferably arranged perpendicularly to each other. For each set, thedistance between two adjacent cutting means is comprised between 1 and20 mm, preferably between 2 and 7 mm.

According to an embodiment, each cutting means of the cutting systemcomprises a flat reciprocating blade.

Advantageously, each set of blades comprises first reciprocating bladesable to be displaced by a first movement system according to aback-and-forth movement, and second reciprocating blades, insertedbetween the first reciprocating blades, and displaced by a secondmovement system according to a back-and-forth movement opposed to thatof the first reciprocating blades.

According to an embodiment, the cutting and shaping means areconstituted by a cutting and shaping device of a type described in theaforementioned patent documents EP 1 397 047 and EP 1 509 089. Such adevice includes a shaping conveying belt for receiving a stream of foodproduct coming from the distribution duct, and along the latter, meansfor cutting said stream into portions, lateral shaping means actingsimultaneously on each side of said stream in order to shape the contourof said portions, and vertical shaping means cooperating with saidlateral shaping means in order to confer the desired thickness to saidportions.

According to a feature, the distribution duct is provided with a cuttingsystem comprising a cutting means, such as a flat horizontalreciprocating blade, arranged upstream from separating means forseparating the main internal passage of the duct into two secondarypassages, so as to form an upper stream of food product and a lowerstream of food product, said device comprising, preferably, a maintransport belt in order to receive the lower stream of food product, asecondary transport belt, advancing continuously, arranged above themain transport belt in order to receive the upper stream and possibly,filling depositing means able to deposit a filling, preferablylaterally, on the lower stream, said secondary transport belt being thenable to transport and deposit said upper stream on said lower stream andthe filling.

According to another embodiment, the cutting and shaping means include aknife, preferably rotary, able to slice the food product exiting thedistribution duct, a transport belt to recover the slices formed by saidknife, and preferably, along this transport belt, lateral shaping meansto shape the contour of said portions, and vertical shaping means toconfer the desired thickness to said portions.

According to alternative embodiments, the device comprises severalpumps, for example two pumps, the distribution duct being connected tothe discharge outlet of each pump to receive in its main internalpassage the food product exiting each pump, the pumps being able to beused to deliver various food products.

The object of the present invention also relates to a method forproducing portions of food product in pieces, especially patties offresh meat in muscle, characterized in that it comprises a step a) offorming a substantially constant flow of food product in pieces in adistribution duct, a step b) of cutting in said distribution duct of thefood product into at least two layers, and a step c) of cutting andshaping of the food product at the output of the distribution duct toform portions of food product having the texture of the initial foodproduct.

According to a feature, at step a), the food product is cut into aplurality of continuous superimposed horizontal layers, for example of athickness of 1 to 20 mm, preferably of 2 to 7 mm, each horizontal layerof food product can also be cut into a plurality of continuous strips,from 1 to 20 mm of width, preferably 2 to 7 mm of width, that is, stripshaving cross-sections of 1 to 400 mm², preferably of 4 to about 50 mm².

According to a feature, the food product at the output of thedistribution duct has the form of at least one continuous stream, thestep c) comprising the cutting and the shaping of said stream intoportions of food products in superimposed layers or in longitudinalstrips. According to an embodiment, the food product at the output ofthe distribution duct has the form of a lower continuous stream and anupper continuous stream brought to overlap the lower stream, the methodfurther comprising a step consisting in depositing a filling on thelower stream before it is covered by the upper stream, in order to forma main continuous filled stream, the step c) comprising the cutting andthe shaping of said main stream into portions of food products filledwith a filling.

According to another embodiment, at step c), the food product at theoutput of the distribution duct is cut into slices in order to form,after shaping, portions of food product in transversal strips or insmall pieces of food product.

The object of the invention also relates to end products obtained fromthe method and the producing device defined here above.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details,features and advantages will become more apparent from the followingdetailed explanatory description of currently-preferred particularembodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanyingschematic drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top schematic view of a device for producing portionsaccording to a first embodiment of the invention, for producing filledpatties of meat thinly sliced into longitudinal strips, in which thepiston pump and the cutting and shaping device are only partially shown;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view according to the cuttingplan II-II of the device in FIG. 1, the pump being omitted;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device in FIG. 1, the pump beingomitted;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of an end product obtained withan identical device to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are respectively longitudinal cross-sectional andperspective views similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, of a first alternativeembodiment of the device of FIGS. 1 to 3, for producing unfilled pattiesof meat thinly sliced into strips;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are respectively longitudinal cross-sectional andperspective views similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, of a second alternativeembodiment of the device of FIGS. 1 to 3, for producing filled pattiesof meat in superimposed layers;

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a filled multi-layered pattyobtained with the device shown in FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a third alternative embodiment of thedevice in FIGS. 1 to 3, for producing unfilled patties of meat insuperimposed layers;

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 are respectively schematic perspective top andcross-sectional longitudinal views, according to plane XII-XII, of adevice according to a second embodiment of the invention, for producingpatties of meat thinly sliced into small pieces; and,

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a device according to an alternativeembodiment of the second embodiment of FIGS. 11 to 13 for producingpatties of meat thinly sliced into transversal strips.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

First considering FIGS. 1 to 3, they schematically show a device forproducing portions of food products according to a first embodimentespecially intended to produce patties of meat thinly sliced into stripsor sticks and filled with an internal filling, from pieces of non-mincedmeat.

The device comprises a pump 1 schematically and partially shown on FIG.1, provided at its discharge outlet 11 with a distribution duct 2.According to FIG. 2, said distribution duct comprises an inlet orifice21 through which the duct is connected to the discharge outlet of saidpump for receiving in its main internal passage 23 the pieces of meatdelivered by the pump, this main passage subdividing into two secondarypassages 24 a and 24 b defining downstream into two distributingorifices 22 a, 22 b, vertically shifted from each other to form a lowerstream of meat V′1 and an upper stream of meat V″1.

The pump is a piston pump of the type described in patent document FR 2884 287, comprising a stator 12 defining a cylindrical cavity; a rotoror barrel 13 housed in said cylindrical cavity, able to be rotationallydriven by a motor, said rotor comprising a set of circumferentiallyspaced bore holes 14, wherein pistons 15 are mounted; a mechanical camcooperating with the pistons to cause, during the rotation of thebarrel, a back and forth alternating movement of said pistons between alow position and a high position, a lid (not shown) closing thecylindrical cavity; a supply orifice that comes into communication withat least one cylindrical chamber formed by a cylindrical bore hole ofthe barrel and its associated piston, and intended to be incommunication with a supply hopper wherein the pieces of meat areplaced; and a discharge orifice that is connected at the dischargeoutlet 11 of the pump and that is able to come simultaneously intocommunication with at least two consecutive cylindrical chambers. Inorder to obtain a substantially homogenous filling of the cylindricalchambers, with no voids, and thus obtain a substantially constant flowof food products in pieces at the output of the pump, the pumpcomprises, such as described in detail in the aforementioned patentdocument, vacuuming means of the cylindrical chambers for carrying outan aspiration via the bottom in the cylindrical chambers during theirfilling, and cutting means at the supply orifice of the pump to cutthose large pieces of meat extending beyond the cylindrical chambersduring their passage beyond the supply orifice.

With particular reference to FIG. 3, the distribution duct is providedwith a first cutting system 3 comprising a first set 31 of flatreciprocating blades 310 a, 310 b, arranged horizontally, in parallelabove one another for cutting the pieces of meat coming from the pumpinto horizontal layers. These horizontal reciprocating blades includesubstantially rectilinear cutting edges 311, turned towards the flowingdirection of the meat flow F (FIG. 2) in the duct, and substantiallyarranged according to a same transversal plan. Each blade crosses theduct throughout at its main passage, and is slidingly mounted on theduct by passing through two opposed slits of the duct wall, arrangedsymmetrically on either side of the longitudinal vertical plane II-II.Each blade comprises an assembling end 312 to assemble it to a movementsystem (not shown) able to displace the blade according to aback-and-forth movement. The blades slide substantially sealingly in theslits of the duct. This first set 31 comprises first blades 310 aassembled on a same side of the duct by their assembling end 312 to afirst movement system (not shown), and second blades 310 b coming tointerpose between the first blades, and assembled from their assemblingend to a second movement system. This mounting of blades with twomovement systems makes it possible, by an appropriate control thereof,to obtain a back-and-forth movement of the first blades opposed to thatof the second blades, and thus to limit or suppress at least in part thetransversal loads applied by the reciprocating blades on the pieces ofmeat when it is being cut.

The first cutting system 3 comprises a second set 32 of reciprocatingblades 320 a, 320 b, arranged perpendicularly and downstream from thefirst set 31 of horizontal reciprocating blades, in order to cut thepieces of meat into vertical layers, or more precisely to cut intoseveral horizontal strips or slivers, each of the horizontalsuperimposed layers of meat resulting from the first set 31. Thevertical flat blades 320 a, 320 b of this second set are verticallyarranged, in parallel next to each other, with substantially rectilinearcutting edges 321 turned towards the flowing direction of the meat flowF and substantially arranged according to a same transversal plan. Eachvertical reciprocating blade crosses de duct throughout by passingthrough two opposing slits of the duct wall, arranged symmetrically oneither side of the longitudinal horizontal symmetrical plane of theduct. This second set 32 also comprises first blades 320 a assembledfrom their assembling end 312 to a movement system to be displacedaccording to a back and forth alternating movement opposed to that ofthe second blades 320 b, interposed between the first blades andassembled to a second movement system. In the illustrated example, thefirst set comprises 7 horizontal reciprocating blades, and the secondset comprises 7 vertical reciprocating blades.

With reference to FIG. 2, these two sets of blades are arranged at aso-called cutting portion 231 from the main passage, including anupstream part 231 a and a downstream part 231 c whereof the transversalcircular sections substantially correspond to those of the dischargeorifice of the pump, and a central part 231 b crossed by the blades,whereof the circular transversal section is higher than those of theupstream and downstream parts, in order to take into account theencumbrance of the blades, and prevent a compression of the meat when itpasses by the blades.

Downstream from the cutting portion, the main passage extends by aso-called shaping portion 232 a,b comprising a first part 232 a whereofthe section passes progressively from upstream to downstream from acircular section to a rectangular section and a second part 232 b ofconstant rectangular section corresponding to the desired section of themain stream V1. Downstream from this second part 232 b, the main passageis divided into two secondary passages 24 a and 24 b of identicalrectangular cross-section.

As illustrated on FIGS. 1 to 3, the distribution duct 23 is formed ofthree tubular pieces assembled to each other: a first piece 25, providedwith a skirt 211 for its mounting on the pump, which forms the cuttingportion 231 a-c of the main passage; a second piece 26 forming the firstpart 232 a of the shaping portion of the main passage; and a third piece27, divergent-shaped, comprising a first part 27 a of constantrectangular cross-section, defining the second part 232 b of the shapingportion of the main passage, this first part 27 a extended by a secondpart 27 b, whereof the rectangular cross-section increases upstream-wiseto downstream-wise, and wherein is mounted a corner-shaped piece 28, oflongitudinal cross-section in an isosceles triangle, to form the twosecondary passages 24 a, 24 b between the main surfaces of thecorner-shaped piece 28 and the wall of the second part 27 b of the thirdpiece.

The distribution duct is provided with a second cutting system 4comprising one single flat horizontal reciprocating blade 410 crossingthroughout the distribution duct at part 232 b of constant rectangularcross-section of the shaping portion to ensure the separation of themeat flow of the main passage into two identical meat flows towards thesecondary passages. The reciprocating blade 410 passes through twolateral slits of piece 27 and is arranged along the ridge of thecorner-shaped piece 28. Its cutting edge 411 is positioned just upstreamfrom this ridge, and is turned towards the flowing direction of the meatflow, or such as illustrated on FIG. 2, is slidingly mounted in a grooveof the corner-shaped piece 28 and forms the ridge of said corner-shapedpiece. This cutting blade is assembled by its assembling end 412 to aback-and-forth movement system.

The two streams V′1 and V″1 exiting from the distribution orifices 24 aand 24 b are each formed of superimposed layers of continuous slivers.The lower stream V′ is deposited on the upper strand of a main transportbelt 51; whereas the second stream is received on the upper strand of asecondary transport belt 52, arranged above the main transport belt 51,parallel to the latter, both belts being substantially isovelocitydriven.

A filling dispenser (not shown) is arranged downstream from thedistribution duct to deposit the filling at regular intervals on thelower stream V′1, in the form of relatively liquid topping doses, or inthe form of slices G as shown in the drawings. The filling dispenser isfor example of the type described in patent document EP 1 509 089, andcomprises a notched conveyor wheel to laterally bring the fillingbetween the two transport belts 51 and 52. The length of the secondarytransport belt 52 is less than that of the main transport belt 51, andthe upper stream V″1 is deposited at the output of this secondarytransport belt 52 on the lower stream V′1 and the slices of filling Ghaving just been deposited, to form the main continuous stream ofslivered and filled meat V1.

The main stream is transferred as it is formed towards a cutting andshaping device 6, shown partially and schematically on the drawings,operating synchronically with the main transport belt 51, on the onehand to process the stream V1 as it is formed, and on the other hand, tocut into portions substantially in the middle of intervals between thesuccessive slices of filling.

The cutting and shaping device 6 is of the type described in theaforementioned patent documents EP 1 397 047 and EP 1 509 089,comprising a transport belt called shaping conveying belt, intended tomake the main stream V1 advance while being formed, which, in practice,is advantageously the main transport belt 51 whereon the main stream V1is constituted. The device comprises along the latter, downstream fromthe secondary transport belt 52, means for cutting said stream intoportions, lateral shaping means simultaneously acting on each side ofsaid stream to shape the contour of said portions, and vertical shapingmeans cooperating with said lateral shaping means to confer the desiredthickness to said portions. The lateral shaping means associated to thebelt 52 comprise indented lateral shaping blocks 61 that advancesymmetrically by sliding on each side and immediately above it. Theblocks are adjacently mounted one after another in a same endless looparrangement mounted above the belt 52. From upstream to downstream onthe belt, blocks 7 get progressively closer facing each other until theytouch to form therewith, by their indents 611, shaping cells, then moveapart again. Each of said lateral shaping blocks exhibit two indents oneach side of a central tip 612, so that the shaping cells are eachformed between two consecutive pairs of lateral facing shaping blocks.Only two consecutive pairs of shaping blocks are shown on the drawings.The blocks comprise in their lower wall slits 613 whereby they areslidingly mounted on transversal rails which form the cutting means. Asynchronism is provided between the filling dispenser D and theadvancement of rails 42, so that the sectioning of the stream V isproperly performed in the interval between two slices of filling. Thevertical shaping means are constituted of pressing elements thatcooperate with the lateral shaping blocks to come and close from the topsaid cells when they are formed, then descend therein in two times,first to carry out the desired compacting of portions, then to transferthem positively to a lower level on a transport belt following belt 52,and ensuring their loading into packaging trays.

FIG. 4 shows in a very schematic manner an end product P1 obtained witha similar device to that described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, butcomprising a first set of 7 horizontal reciprocating blades and a secondset of 5 vertical reciprocating blades. The end product has a fibrousstructure of superimposed layers of longitudinally arranged strips. Ofcourse, the illustration in FIG. 4 is very schematic, the strips beingin contact with each other and being formed from one or several piecesof meat. In comparison with a standard minced steak, the end productretains the fibrous texture of the initial pieces of meat.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternative embodiment of the device shown inFIGS. 1 to 3 for producing an end product P2 that is different fromproduct P1 by the fact that it does not comprise any filling. Thedistribution duct 102 comprises an inlet orifice 121 and one singledistribution orifice 122 for forming one single stream V2. The maininternal passage 123 is not subdivided into two secondary passages, itcomprises, as previously, a cutting portion 231, formed by a first piece25, at which are mounted the two sets of reciprocating blades 31 and 32,and a shaping portion whereof the first part 232 a is formed aspreviously by the second piece 26 and whereof the second part 232 b isconstituted this time of one piece 128 of constant rectangulartransversal cross-section forming a simple distribution spout with aunique distribution orifice 122. The device comprises one single maintransport belt 51 for receiving the stream V2, and along which ispositioned the cutting and shaping device 6.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an alternative embodiment of the device shown inFIGS. 1 to 3 for producing a multi-layered filled end product P3. Thedistribution duct 202 is different from that of FIGS. 1 to 3 by the factthat it is provided with a first cutting system comprising only onefirst set 31 of horizontal reciprocating blades, so as to form at theoutput a filled stream V3 of meat in superimposed layers, from a lowerstream V′3 and from an upper stream of meat V″3. According to FIG. 9,the textured end product P3 obtained is formed of superimposed layers ofmeat.

FIG. 10 shows another alternative embodiment that is different from thatof FIGS. 5 and 6 by the fact that the distribution duct 302 is providedwith a cutting system 3 that does not comprise a set of verticalreciprocating blades, the end products P4 obtained from stream V4 beingof multilayered-type, like product P3, but with no filling.

According to another alternative embodiment not shown, the distributionduct is formed of the aforementioned piece 26 that is directly connectedto the pump, and of the dual distribution spout system, formed byaforementioned pieces 27 and 28, provided with a second cutting system4. The reciprocating blade thus serves to cut into two layers, the meatdelivered by the pump, the two layers being separated so that each onepasses into a secondary passage. By way of example, this device may beused to form portions of turkey or chicken breasts, filled with filling,entire breasts being directly loaded in the hopper supplying the pump.

FIGS. 11 to 13 show a second embodiment wherein the distribution duct402 is formed of a tubular piece 29 directly mounted at the output ofthe piston pump (not shown) and comprising a main internal passageway423 of constant internal transversal cross-section corresponding to thecross-section of the output of the pump, with an inlet orifice 421 and adistribution orifice 422. The duct is equipped with a cutting system 103formed of a first set 131 of horizontal reciprocating blades 1310 a,13010 b and of a second set 132 of vertical reciprocating blades 1320 a,1320 b, arranged downstream of the first set to cut the meat intorectangular or square slivers or strips, arranged in superimposedlayers. These two sets 131, 132 are similar to those 31, 32 describedbefore, with first and second blades displaced in opposing parallelback-and-forth movements. Each set 131, 132 comprises for example 13blades.

As a cutting means, the shaping and cutting device 106 comprises arotary knife 162 including a flat blade with a curved cutting edge 162a, that is arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the ductand parallely to the front side 428 of the duct that serves as cuttingsurface plate. The blade is rotationally driven by a motor 163 around anaxis parallel to the axis of the duct so as to displace the curvedcutting edge 162 a of the blade in front of the discharge orifice 422,to cut vertically in slices T5 the meat exiting from the distributionduct. The knife thus makes it possible to cut into small pieces thecontinuous strips formed at the output of the cutting system 103. Thedevice comprises a transport belt 52 on the upper strand from which arerecovered the slices T5 of small pieces of meat. The FIGS. 11 to 13schematically show the slice at the output of the duct on the transportbelt, with pieces of meat all oriented vertically. In practice, in thecase of portions obtained from pieces of raw meat, and according to thenumber of blades and thus according to the size of the strips, the sliceT5 that has just been cut and that has fallen on the transport belt, isin the form of a heap of small pieces of thinly sliced meat oriented inall directions. Lateral and vertical shaping means 61 identical to thosepreviously described are arranged along the belt 52 to shape the contourof substantially circular portions P5, and to provide them with thedesired thickness.

FIG. 14 shows an alternative embodiment wherein the distribution duct502 only comprises a first set of horizontal reciprocating blades 131,to obtain at the output of the duct, slices T6 of meat in stripsoriented mainly transversally, then circular portions P6 at the outputof the shaping means.

Although the invention has been described in relation with severalparticular embodiments, it is to be understood that it is in no waylimited thereto and that it includes all the technical equivalents ofthe means described as well as their combinations should these fallwithin the scope of the invention.

1. A device for producing portions of food products in pieces, thedevice comprising a pump to deliver at an output a substantiallyconstant flow of food product, a tubular distribution duct connected tothe output of said pump in order to receive in an internal passagetherein the food product exiting the pump, the tubular distribution ducthaving a discharge orifice and being provided with a cutting systemcomprising a cutting means transversally crossing on either side of saidinternal passage of the tubular distribution duct in order to cut thefood product into at least two layers, and cutting and shaping meansacting on the food product provided by the discharge orifice in order toform portions of food products, wherein said cutting means comprisesfirst flat reciprocating blades able to be displaced by a first movementsystem in a back-and-forth movement, and second flat reciprocatingblades inserted between the first flat reciprocating blades, anddisplaced by a second movement system in a back-and-forth movementopposed to that of the first flat reciprocating blades to or suppress atleast in part the transversal loads applied by reciprocating blades onthe pieces of food product when the food product is being cut.
 2. Deviceaccording to claim 1, characterised in that the cutting system comprisesa first set of cutting means, arranged in a parallel manner one aboveone another, in order to cut the food product coming from the pump intoseveral layers.
 3. Device according to claim 2, characterised in thatthe cutting system comprises a second set of cutting means arrangedvertically in parallel next to each other, downstream of the first setof cutting means, in order to cut into strips each of the layersresulting from the first set of cutting means.
 4. Device according toclaim 1, characterised in that the cutting and shaping means include ashaping conveying belt in order to receive a stream of food productcoming from the distribution duct, and therealong, a rotary knifeincluding a flat blade having a curved cutting edge for cutting saidstream into portions, lateral shaping means acting simultaneously ofeach side of said stream in order to shape the contour of said portions,and vertical shaping means cooperating with said lateral shaping meansin order to confer the desired thickness to said portions.
 5. Deviceaccording to claim 1, characterised in that the distribution duct isprovided with a cutting system comprising a cutting means arrangedupstream of separating means for separating the internal passage of thedistribution duct into two secondary passages, so as to form an upperstream of food product and a lower stream of food product, said devicecomprising a first transporting belt in order to receive the lowerstream of food product, a second transporting belt, advancingcontinuously, arranged above the first transporting belt in order toreceive the upper stream, and filling depositing means to deposit afilling on the lower stream, said second transporting belt being able totransport and deposit said upper stream on said lower stream and thefilling.
 6. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that thecutting and shaping means include a knife able to slice the food productexiting the distribution duct, a transport belt to recover slices formedby said knife, and along said transport belt, lateral shaping means toshape the contour of said portions and vertical shaping means to conferthe desired thickness to said portions.
 7. Device according to claim 1,characterised in that said pump has a rotary piston, and comprises astator defining a cylindrical cavity, a rotor housed in said cylindricalcavity, able to be driven in rotation by a motor, said rotor comprisinga set of bore holes circumferentially spaced, wherein are mountedpistons, a mechanical cam cooperating with the pistons in order toprovoke during the rotation of the drum a back-and-forth alternatingmovement of said pistons between a low position and a high position, alid closing the cylindrical cavity, a supply orifice that comes intocommunication with at least one cylindrical chamber formed by acylindrical hole of the barrel and the piston associated thereof, andintended to be in communication with a hopper, a discharge outlet ableto come simultaneously into communication with at least two consecutivecylindrical chambers.
 8. Device according to claim 7, characterised inthat said pump further comprises vacuuming means for vacuumingcylindrical chambers for the filling thereof, said vacuuming meanscomprising at least one vacuuming channel exiting in the lower portionof each cylindrical chamber, said vacuuming means being able to vacuumvia the bottom each cylindrical chamber via the vacuuming channelthereof when the piston associated thereof is in low position.
 9. Deviceaccording to claim 7, characterised in that said pump further comprisescutting means, comprising a blade arranged along the downstream edge ofthe supply orifice, in order to cut the pieces of product extendingbeyond the cylindrical chambers during the passage thereof beyond thesupply orifice.
 10. A device for producing portions of a food product inpieces, the device comprising: a tubular distribution duct receivingtherein a substantially constant flow of food product fed at a first endby delivering means, the tubular distribution duct being endedhorizontally by a discharge orifice, at a second end, and being providedwith a cutting system comprising a reciprocating cutting meanstransversally crossing an internal passage of the tubular distributionduct in order to cut the food product, cutting and shaping means actingon the food product outside the tubular distribution duct in order toform portions of the food product, the cutting and shaping meansincluding a knife able to cut the food product, a transport belt torecover the cuts formed by said knife, and, along said transport belt,lateral and vertical shaping means to shape the contour of saidportions, wherein the knife comprises a rotating blade which is disposedoutside the tubular distribution duct, at the location of said dischargeorifice, to cut transversally and vertically in slices the food productexiting the discharge orifice.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein thedelivering means comprises a pump feeding the tubular distribution ductwith the food product in pieces, at said first end.
 12. A device forproducing portions of a food product in pieces, the device comprising: atubular distribution duct receiving therein a substantially constantflow of food product fed by delivering means, the tubular distributionduct having an horizontal discharge orifice at an output end, and beingprovided with a cutting system comprising a reciprocating cutting meanstransversally crossing an internal passage of the tubular distributionduct in order to cut the food product, cutting and shaping means actingon the food product outside the tubular distribution duct in order toform portions of the food product, the cutting and shaping meansincluding a knife able to cut the food product, a transport belt torecover the cuts formed by said knife, and, along said transport belt,lateral and vertical shaping means to shape the contour of saidportions, wherein the knife comprises a flat blade having a curvedcutting edge to cut vertically in slices the food product at said outputend.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the delivering means comprisesa pump feeding the tubular distribution duct with the food product inpieces, at an input end of the tubular distribution duct.
 14. A devicefor producing portions of a food product in pieces, the devicecomprising: a tubular distribution duct receiving therein asubstantially constant flow of food product fed by delivering means, thetubular distribution duct having an axis and a discharge orifice on saidaxis ending the tubular distribution duct, and being provided with acutting system comprising a reciprocating cutting means transversallycrossing an internal passage of the tubular distribution duct in orderto cut the food product, cutting and shaping means acting on the foodproduct outside the tubular distribution duct in order to form portionsof the food product, the cutting and shaping means including a knifeable to cut the food product, a transport belt to recover the cutsformed by said knife, and, along said transport belt, lateral shapingmeans to shape the contour of said portions and vertical shaping meansto confer a desired thickness to said portions, wherein the knifecomprises a blade which rotates on itself around an axis parallel to thedischarge orifice axis, to cut in slices the food product exiting thedischarge orifice.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the deliveringmeans comprises a pump feeding the tubular distribution duct with thefood product in pieces, at an input end of the tubular distributionduct.